Shock-absorber.



R. S. CARTER.

SHOCK ABSGRBER. APPucATsou man uuf 4. ma.

Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

MWENTR www mofmfrs RUSSELL STEENBACK CARTER, OF HEWLETT, NEW YORK.

SHOCK-ABSORBER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. s, 191e.

Application led June 4, 1913. Serial No. 771,614.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. Rossem. SfrnnNnacK CARTER, a citizen of the United States, re'- siding at llewlett, in Nassau county and ,State of New York, have invented the following described Improvements in Shock- Absorbers.

Theimprovement concerns the application of liquid or mobile resistance to shock absorbers for automobiles and like uses, and consists in the features of construction and principles of operation hereinafter set forth, whereby the action of the `vehicle springs is. accommodated to `uneven road surfaces in a superior manner and without imparting shock to the vehicle body and whereby also other features of improvement in operation and convenience of manufacture are gained, all as will be made apparent below and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure wl is a horizontal section on line l-l of Fig. 2, showing a preferred form of embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 is a` vertical section of the shock absorber `on 'the line ll-Il of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is an illustration of a suitable mode of attachment of the device to an automobile or vehicle; and Fig. 4 is a modified form of the spring blade.

In the illustrated form the liquid or resistance containing casing is formed of main and cover portions marked 1 and 2, respectively, the main portion being provided with connection means in the form of lugs 3, and the cover part 2 being secured to the other by means of. a series o'f rim bolts 4, so as to provide a leak-proof chamber within the casing. The shape of the casing is not niatcrial to the generic invention, but the interior chamber is desirably and preferably sector-shaped, or substantially so, and is provided with an enlargement at its smaller end suitable to form a journal scatti for the hub 6 and adapted to support such hub substantially concentric with the arcuate end wall 7 of the chamber. The hub 6 is provided with an extended part of less diameter and conveniently made integral therewith, which extends beyond the journal seat and projects through the cover Q to the outside of the casing where it is squared or otherwise shaped to receive a crank arm 8. The hub end or shoulder 9 formed by the reduction of diameter, is held closely against the inside surface of the cover 2, in leakproof contact with it, by means of a spring or spring washer 10, which latter is applied to the opposite end of the hub between such end and the adjacent casing side wall, al though it might be applied otherwise to maintain the same contact. The pressure of contact produced by the sprin need only be sutlicient to prevent leakage tirough the hub aperture in the cover when the device is not in operation, since at other times the liquid within the casing will be under pressure, and acting unbalanced on the inner end of the hub, can impart an end thrust thereto sufiicient to prevent leakage, even without the aid of any means for holding the hub against the cover. For this purpose the inner end of the hub is cut or formed with one or more channels 11 arranged to be in constant communication with the chamber, so that the liquid may have free access to the end of the hub.

It will be evident that irrespective of the structure and mode of operation of the rest of the device, the hub mounting just described makes for simplicity of manufacture and durability in use, inasmuch as stuiiing boxes are not employed and leakage is not likely todevelop, even after long periods of wear.

The hub carries a blade which extends radially toward the arcuate end wall 7, forming a substantially complete partition in the liquid chamber and dividing the* liquid in two portions. The side edges of the blade approach closely to the side walls of the casing so as to prevent any considerable passage of iiquid past them, and the terminal edge of the blade extends similarly close. to the arcuate end wall 7, although the circumstances of the particular design in which the invention is embodied may require a larger separation to produce the best results. In the form herein illustrated, the liquid chamber is Wider near the hub than at its arcuate wall and the blade member is similarly tapered So as to conform to the section of such chamber, but it will be evident that the chamber may be parallelwalled if desired, in which case the blade may also have parallel side edges. dien the blade and chamber are both equally tapered however, it is possible for the edges of the blade to be in closest contact with the casing when the blade is Straight or unflexed thereby forming a more perfect separation between compartments on such occasions, and yet permitting the blade to be free of such contact when flexed or warped, as it is in operation, thereby serving to eliminate wear and providing somewhat greaterl accommodation to sudden shocks, by reason ot' the larger passage opened.

The blade is elastic or yielding, being made of spring metal and in its best form is a laminated spring blade formed of several super-posed spring leaves 12 of graded lengths, as indicated in the drawings, thus ali'ording a degree of' elasticity which increases from its secured end at the hub to its tip or free end near the arcuate end Wall, and producing a blade which is thicker near its base than at its free end. ln the preferred form, the central leaf extending from the hub to the end wail, is reinforced by shorter icaves symmetrically disposed on its opposite sides, so that the blade is rendered equally elastic to movement in either direction. In the modified blade shown in Fig. 4, the reinforcing leaves are placed all on one side of the main leaf so that this blade is unsymmetrical and in operation tends to flex more readily in one direction than in the other. This form of blade may be used in a casing like that shown in Figs. l and 2, where the resistance in one direction is required or desired to be greater than in the other. A further modification of blade structure, aise indicated in Fig. 4, compre` bends the provision of a hole in one or more of the longer leaves, which the next shorter leaf or leaves will open under one direction of movement and close in the opposite movement, thus also producing dissimilar resistance to opposite movements of the blade. The shorter leaves are desirably fish-tailed as indicated and all are held together and in position in the hub by means of a single counter-sunk bolt or rivet 14.

Then the device is in use it is secured to the two partsbetween which shock is to -be absorbed or prevented, the casing being attached by its lugs 3 to one of such parts, for instance, to the side girder of an automobile frame and the hub, through its crank arm 8 and a link 15, with the other part, for instance, the axle 1G, as indicated in Fig. 3, although these connecting means can take various other forms as circumstances may require, it being important only that they will serve to transmit the shock pressure to the liquid in the easing. Vith the vehicle springs 17 compressed to their normal or standing condition, as with ordinary loads on a smooth road, the spring biade holds a substantially central position in the casing so that it may have equal throw in both directions. On the collapsing movement of the vehicle springs it will thus be moved upwardly, and on the rebound it will move downwardly in or through the liquid, irnparting the shock pressure to the upper or the lower portion thereof as the case may be. This pressure will Hex the blade from its end, and by so doingwill diminish its effective length or piston area and open or enlarge a passage-way between the blade and.

oil or any mobile resistance medium, intro duced through one or the other of the holes 18, and more or less completely filling the casing, it heilig understood that media of di'erent viscosities will oppose correspondingly different resistances to motion and that the device may be adapted to different conditions in this manner independently of other adjustments referred to below.

In passing from one side to the other ot the spring blade, the liquid may flow only through the passage which is formed or opened by the flexing of the blade, but the invention includes also an auxiliary and constantly open communication between compartments which is capable of exterior control and serviceable as a means of adjustment of the device. This normal communication may be located either at the blade, or an independent path or lay-pass through the casing, or around the hub. In the device illustrated, it is located around the hub and is provided by cutting an annular channel if) inthe hub or casing extending from one side of the blade to the other. A screw 20 tapped in the hub part of the casing protrudes into `this cnannei more or less, according to its adjustment and controls the capacity of the by-pass. This control screw is threaded `in the top wall of the easing where it will be convenient of access. Enlargement of the sectional area of the by-pass 4through the channel diminishes the degree of pressure to which the liquid is subjected during a given shock and thereby diminishes the resistance to flow encountered by the liquid, and also the flexing of the blade, while its restriction produces the reverse effect; consequently the adjustment of the control-screw will adapt the device to different vehicle springs and different ioad conditions.

Manifestly the restrictive functions of the device become effective only after the liquids inertia of rest and frictional resistance have been overcome and the flow thereof has been begun. Previous tothe beginning of the fiow the spring blade yields and temporarily absorbs the shock which would otherwise become transmitted directly through the liquid to the body of the vehicle, and gives up its stored energy to the liquid after the latter is in motion. Inasmuch as the resistances referred to are inversely proportional to the time element of the shock, it will be quite apparent that in the case of very quick shocks the obstruction to move ment might otherwise be so complete as to defeat the main object of the device, or to break the connections or rupture the casing. The important function of this shock-resisting and spring-yielding blade is therefore itsY absorption or temporary storage of the shock energy at, and immediately following, the instant of impact, so that the inertia of the liquid and its frictional resistance can be gradually overcome. vIt Will be evident that the weight and strength of the shock-resisting spring determine its capacity for the storage of the shock pressure in the manner just mentioned and it will be understood that the spring has sufficient dimensions for the purposes described, and which may be said to characterize the retarding action of the present device as that of a live resistance in contradistinction to the dead resistance experienced in ordinary liquid dashpots, or shock absorbers `utilizing only the liquid daslnpot principle. The same considerations operate also to provide a very Wide range of effective functioning of the device, since the by-pass passage can be adjusted with reference to the average or -normal shock conditions` and not to the maXimum shock conditidns only, as necessarily done in the liquid dash-pot type in order to avoid the danger of rupture.

For slight vibrations, such as the vehicle springc can accommodate Without excessive flexing, and for which no retarding action is necessary from the shock absorber, the liquid is given a relatively unrestricted passage from one side of the blade to the other. This provision may be made at the blade or in the by-pass as circumstances may require or at both places. In the present case'it is made in the by-i'iass, the desired effect being produced by a hub recess 2l or enlargement, formed in the by-pass channel at a point which is beneath the end of the control screw when the blade isin its mid position, or within the range of the slight vibrations referred to. The enlargement nullifies or reduces the restrictive function of the screw and makes the by-pass a. full-open passage so long as the recess and screw arc in opposition` but when the blade and hub are turned beyond the determined angle, the edge of the recess coming opposite the screw, restores the restriction for Which the screw Was set. and thereupon the liquid is put un der pressure as above described.

By transmitting the shock pressure to the liquid through the intervention of a spring, as for example the spring blade 12, it Will be observed that thespring will be flexed, i. c., the shock energy will be stored therein and the liquid in motion at the moment the vehicle springs begin to return from a collapsed or expanded condition and that thereby the reaction of the shock absorber lags slightly behind the action of the springs, thus insuring that the shackles and other connections will be maintained tight and free from lost motion even when considerably worn, and also safeguarding the device from injury by very sudden and severe.

shocks, as will be evident. Such action will of course take place regardless of the variable opening of the liquid passage around the end of theblade and Will consequently .be of use Whether the spring be incorporated in the blade as above described or in the eX- terior connections whereby the shock pressure is transmitted to the liquid, and the vehicle springs and absorber are maintained slightly out of phase.

It will be understood by those skilled in this art that the device above described is not limited in respect of the sine or proportion of its parts nor to` the details of their mechanical assemblage or construction eX- cept as specified 'in the claims and that various omissions, Substitutions, reversals and` alterations in the form and operation of the device may be made Without departing from the invention.

I claim:

1. In a shock absorber, the combination of a chamber adapted to contain a liquid, a shock-resisting spring-blade partition non mally dividing the liquid in two portions and means for imparting the shock pressure to one of such portions whereby the partitionyields ,and the liquid Hows from one side to the other thereof.

2. In a shock absorber, the combination of a chamber adapted to contain a resistance medium, a shock-resisting yielding partition dividing the medium` in two portions and adapted to vary the sectional area of a passage from one portion to the other, according Ato the degree of its yielding, and connections for imparting the shock pressure to one of such liquid portions .whereby the partition yields and the medium flows through the passage.

3. In a shock absorber, the combination of a chamber adapted to contain a liquid resistance medium, a shock-resisting yieldingY partition dividing the liquid in two portions and providing a variable passage from one `portion to the other, connections for imparting the shock pressure to one of the portions, and a by-pass independent of the variable passage. 1

4. In a shock absorber, a chamber confining a liquid, an elastic shock-resisting partition relatively movable in the liquid under the shock pressure and adapted to provide der the shock pressure, in combination with a by-pass for the liquid and means whereby a minimum resistance is offered to midvibrations not exceeding a predetermined amplitude.

G. In a shock absorber, a casing containing a liquid, a shock-resisting spring-blade therein adapted to open a variable liquid passage from one side to the other thereof,

and another passage through which the liquid may. flow subject to restriction by the movement of the blade beyond a *predetermined position in the casing, in combination with connecting means whereby the shock pressure is transmitted to the liquid.

7. In a shock absorber, the combination of a chamber containing a mobile resistance medium, an elastic shock-resisting partition movable therein and having an increasing degree of flexibility from its secured toward its free end, and connections for imparting the shock pressure to the medium Whereby the partition is fixed and the medium Hows past the free end thereof.

8. A shock absorber for vehicles comprisling a chamber adapted to contain a liquid l tition adapted to co-act with said liquid to store the energy of shocks and composed of a main or central leaf and reinforcing side leaves, and connections to the vehicle parts between which shock is to be absorbed, whereby the shock pressures are transmitted through said spring-yielding partition to said body of liquid.

10. A shock absorber comprising a liquidcontaining casing and a shockresisting spring blade therein, said blade and casing being provided with means for connecting them respectively to the parts between whichV shock is to be absorbed and said spring blade being composed of lamin of graded lengths and being free to Hex in either direction under the shock pressure.

11. In a shock absorber, a casing containing a resistance medium and an elastic para liquid, a spring blade forming a tition adapted to move relatively through the same and having substantially equal elasticity in either direction of its yielding movement.

12. In a shock absorber, a chamber adapted to contain a mobile resistance medium, a laminated spring partition adapted for relative movement therein under the shock pressure and formed of superposed leaves of graded lengths, the ends of the shorter leaves being fish-tailed.

13. A shock absorber comprising two relatively moving parts adapted to contain a liquid confined 1n two compartments therein, means whereby the relative motion of such parts causes the liquid to flow from one compartment toward the other, in combination with a spring-yielding partitionmember controlling the sectional area of the communication between compartments, adapted to vary such area in direct proportion to the velocity of relative motion belzween the said parts in both directions of 14. In a shock absorber, the combination of a resistance medium, a container therefor, relatively moving yielding shock rei sisting partition dividing the same into two compartments, and means of communication from one compartment to the other which varies in total sectional area according to two factors, viz., the relative position of the partition with respect to the container and the velocity of the partition with respect thereto, and means for connecting the container and partition, respectively, lto the parts between which shock is to be absorbed.

15. The combination with the springs of a vehicle ot' a liquid-containing shock absorber having a shock resisting spring member reacting against such vehicle springs whereby the reaction of the absorber lags behind the action of the springs.

16. The combination with the springs of a vehicle, of a shock absorber applied thereto and adapted to contain a conined liquid subject to shock pressure, a restricted passage through which the liquid tlows` under such pressure, and a shock resisting spring yielding means for transmitting such pressure to the liquid, whereby the reaction of the absorber is out of phase with the action of the vehicle springs.

17. In a Shock absorber, a chamber adapted to contain a mobile resistance medium, a rotary hub therein, an elastic blade having greater thickness near -the hub than at its free" end and mounted on the hub for movement in the resistance medium.

18. A shock absorber comprising a liquidcontaining casing, a blade therein having a hub iournaled in the casing with/a part projecting to the exterior thereof and havseal, a spring acting endwise on the hub to urge seid part 'toward the easing, and' a liquid'eommunicaton between the hub and the casing, adapted to admit the pressure in tir '..latter to a osition inwhichuitmey'ect eh rse-on the ub andthereby supplement .a'tion of the sprin0.- 1 "519. In a shock absorber, the combination of va casing containing liquid, en oscillatin 20. IIn a shock absorber, the-combinationof a liquid-conteininl casirig having a hub;-

t erQn'and/an arouate' portion with a hub end Wall, e spring-blade erried by the hub and extendin toward the end wall, vseid blade bein a opted-to o ene passalge from one side o thelblde' to t e other by reason Lof-its flexing aveyirom the end will, endtions of the said s ring-connected parts.

Ineens wherebyftlieshock pressure 1s transmitted to the blde. r

` portion and an `arcuate wall and filled with 2'1. In a. "shock absorber, the combination of a liquid-eonta1ning casing having a hub n litld resistance medium, a shook-resistingtion from side toV side ofthe partition formed .in the lnlblportion anda. variable eommun'- Z cation between the en dLof the blade. q 22.' The combination with the spring-consgid Wnliend the `free neted parts of :t vehicle, of a. chamber 4corr-v taining a. liquid subject to How therein, and e spring-yielding member 4ozicting -with the liquid wherebythe initial movement of the parts. is resisted coincidentlyby the inertie, of the liquid 'and theres'ilience of the springyieldin member. 4

23. oek-ebsrbing mechanism comprising in `combination with theI springconnect-V ed parts of av'ehcle, a chaimbereontaning ln. liquid which may flow ther'ein under tlie effect of the shock-pressure, n spring-yield. ing member adapted to store the energy of the shock and exert the same in overcoming the inertia; 'of the liquid and means 4for com trolling thefiow of .the liquid providing) an:

enlarged liow passage under minor v1 ra-- In testimony w ereof, I have signed thisl vspeeiiicetion 'in tlie presence of two witvmesses. i

. Witnesses:

MARY Wnss'rm, `ANNIE A. PRICE.

RUSSELL` summon GAMER.. f

to urge said part towardy the casing, and a liquidjcommunication between the hub and the casing, adapted to admit the pressure in the .1

is'eon the hub andtherebyfsupplement p ction of the spring.A 1 19. In a shock absorber, the combination of a casing containing liquid, an oscillating portion with a hub therein'andfan arcuate end wall, a spring-blade carried by the hub and extending4 toward the end wall, said blade being adapted'to open a passage from one side of thelblde 'to the other by reason lof-its flexing away" from the end wall, and

means wherebyjthe shock pressure 1s transmitted tothe blade.

' portion and an varcuate wall and illed with 21. In a "Shook absorber, the combinationof a liquid-containing casing having a hub a liquid resistanee medium, a shock-resisting yielding blade dlvidlng the same inttwo portions and mounted on a hub journaled in the lhub portion, a constantly open-communica- Coreetions in Letters Patent No.1 ,171,169:

atter to a position in which it may actan improvement in ShookfAbsorbers,

Signed and sealed this v 7th day of March, 1916." I

.tion from side to side ofthe partition formed in the hubportion anda variable eommuni'- cation between the said wall .and the free end of the blade. :l 22; The combination With the spring-connected parts of vehicle, of a chamber oon'- taining a liquid subject to flow therein, and av spring-yielding member coacting with the liquid whereby the initial movement of the parts. is resisted coincidently` by the inertia of the liquid and the resilienceof the springyielding member.

23. Shock-absorbing mechanism comprising in combination with the spring-connect-` ed parts of a ehicle, a chamber containlng ,a liquid which may flow therein under tlie eiect of the shock-pressure', a spring-yield.

ing member adapted to store the energy of the shock and exert the samev in overcomingl the inertia `of the liquidl and means `for con:

trolling theilovv ofthe liquid providing an" enlarged flow passage under minor fvibra tions of the said spring-connected parts.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this .specification 'in kthe presence of two vWit# IIGSSBS..

Witnesses:

MARY WAGSTAFF, ANNIE A, PRICE.

It is herebycertied that in Letters Patent No. 1,'17,1,lv`69, granted Febrimry 8, 1916J upon the application of Russell Steenbeek Carter, of Hewlett, New York, 'for errorsappear in the printed specification i page 4, line 34, claim 7, for theword-fliedl read jeedj and that the said Letters Patent should `be read with these correctionsl therein that the-samemayconform to 1' the record ofthe vease .in the Patent- Oliiee.

1 J. T. NEWTON,

.Acting Commissioner of Paftents.

RUSSELL` STEENBAGK GAMER., f

requiring correction as follows: Page 3, lineQ, for the Word spring read springs;

Corrections `n Letters Patent No. 1,171,169.

y Itis hereby certied that in Letters Patent N o. 1,171,169, granted February 8, 1916, upon the application of Russell Steenbeek Carter, of Hewlett, New York, for

an improvement in Shock-Absorbers, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 39, for the word spring reed syringe;

E page 4, line 34, claim 7, for theword fixed read flexed; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to i the record of the` cese in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of March, A. D., 1916. l

[SEAL] J. T. NEWTON,

C1. 21-105 Acting Commissioner of Pdtents. 

